We currently have sabatier knives, but I’ve been looking for an excuse to upgrade and pass the sabatiers on. We’re now having a new kitchen, so I thought “what better excuse!”.

So, my first instinct was to look at Global, but I dont want to rush into them and want to look at alternatives first as I’m not sure they offer the best value and there may be a premium to pay with the name?

Are there any recommendations for a similar construction (1 piece), looking at around £400 max for a 5 piece set – dont need a block as they’ll be on a magnetic strip.
Something that feels nice and balanced, I’d rather have ergonomic handles over a fancy looking shape thats uncomfortable, and something that’ll sharpen with a steel rather than a stone if possible? – I always sharpen the sabatiers with a steel, or is this not a good idea with the better knives?
I’m a bit concerned about just looking online at “japanese knives” or the like as I think there’ll be a lot of overpriced tat out there!

Any help is appreciated!

Why not keep the knives you have and are happy with?

but I’ve been looking for an excuse to upgrade

FFS!

Any help is appreciated!

You could start by realising what a waste of money it is!

(Please note this post is needlessy inflammatory and should be taken as a part troll)

Use Sabatier and Global here, wife (a chef) prefers Sabatier, myself Global.
I think as with any decent knife it’s what feels right in your hand.

I have one Porsche knife which is quite nice, one piece etc, but too heavy I feel.

http://www.zwilling.com/en/knife-series/items/four-star–2628.html?page=3

I’ve got several of these in differing sizes, some with a concealed tang, some with it exposed (i.e. riveted heads). Just brilliant, though not cheap.

The handles of the sabatiers are starting to show their age, a couple have small cracks in them and they are a limited edition set with brass parts to the handles which I just don’t like.
They’ve served their time and I would probably be looking at replacing them in a year or two anyway so would be asking the same.
And I have a n*10 birthday this year and the wife has decided that she wants to get me some knives.

I’ve spent a lot of time justifying this to myself so please don’t spoil it!

I’ve used plenty of very expensive knives when i worked in a kitchen and the chefs let me loose with theirs, but at home i’ve got Sabatiers. I’ve had them five years or so and see no reason to change.

Sorry, not helping!

I bought a Wusthof cooks knife couple of years ago, best bit of kitchen “kit” I ever bought. Didn’t like Global, hated the feel of the handle and it felt a bit light.

Wusthof Classic

Tesco knife deal

Nah, you want The World’s Sharpest Knife…

http://www.kwaichi.com/blog/2008/12/01/forever-sharp-knives-yeah-right-and-the-knife-through-a-hammer-trick/

How about ‘ceramic’ knives:

http://www.kyoceraknives.co.uk/

Never used them, but I like the idea

Hth
Marko

mrjmt – Member

The handles of the sabatiers are starting to show their age, a couple have small cracks in them

I’d call that “patina”. I’ve had 1 8″ sabatier that’s done me fine, GF recently got me a 4″ one but I never use it.

I like the look of the Wusthofs, the handle looks very comfortable. There’s a stockist near my work too so I might drop in and have a look.

On a similar note, when you go to a shop to have a look, what do you do? Its not like you can sit there and play stairway to heaven on them is it!
Maybe I should take a carrot with me and give it a quick slice?
Or make stabbing actions into mid air?
Or learn to juggle knives and ask to see the full set?

Hmm, or the other option, I wonder if I could have my existing knives reconditioned?
Maybe have the blades re-ground, and new handles?
Or is that an imaginary service that would probably cost more than the knives are worth?

Mrs North has a couple of Globals, which I use. I find them nice, though I have no real experience of other decent knives.

A proper cookshop ought to let you try them for size.

slight hijack – got some pretty reasonable knives and sharpen them with a proper steel but serial abuse (think putting them in a dishwasher, sneaking them out to the shed for important bike related business, not serial murder) the edges are pretty pitted with dirty great lumps taken out. Are there machines you can buy for normal money or people who grind them back properly locally any more?

I bought most of my knives from JCK that are still cheaper than any you find in the market here even with delivery charges etc.
Japanese Chefs Knife

The ones you want to go for are:

1. Hattori HD series.
2. Misono Sweden steel or UX10 series
3. Hiromoto Tenmi-Jyuraku Series (Aogami Super)
4. Special
5. Buy some King whetstones or any good Japanese whetstones.
6. If you are a Chinese cleaver user then look for Sugimoto Chinese Cleaver or Suien Chinese Cleaver.

🙂

or people who grind them back

Your butcher?

I’ve got a remarkably nice electric knife sharpener – as ever, not cheap, but it works perfectly, doesn’t grind your knife away in seconds, and means I don’t have to spend ages with a steel getting the knives perfect after my daughter has carved rocks (or whatever she does with them) with my favourite knives.

I paid about £100, I believe.

or people who grind them back

Your butcher?

I’ll investigate that, we’re on good terms with the local butcher so I’ll drop in for a chat.
I also saw on a recent thread regarding sharpening that the local butcher is good for showing you good technique, top tip there!

I bought most of my knives from JCK that are still cheaper than any you find in the market here even with delivery charges etc.
Japanese Chefs Knife

The ones you want to go for are:

1. Hattori HD series.
2. Misono Sweden steel or UX10 series
3. Hiromoto Tenmi-Jyuraku Series (Aogami Super)
4. Special
5. Buy some King whetstones or any good Japanese whetstones.
6. If you are a Chinese cleaver user then look for Sugimoto Chinese Cleaver or Suien Chinese Cleaver.

That site looks very promising, I’ll have a proper look on there.

I assume that you have at least one of each of the above?

I have one of these which is excellent and my most used knife

http://www.millyskitchenstore.co.uk/FAPorscheType301SantokuKnife178mmP02-Product-18220.html

I also have one of these – iot is a joy to use but veg only

Knife lines

I don’t have to spend ages with a steel getting the knives perfect

You don’t have to do that anyway.. I spend 30s and I can cut onions with ease – good enough for me 🙂

(can’t resist heckling here, sorry!)

If you’re around Marylebone these guys are worth a visit – http://www.japaneseknifecompany.com/JKCSHOP.aspx

I haven’t been to the shop for quite a while but the staff were very helpful. If the shop is quiet ask them to show you how to sharpen a knife correctly (using newspaper!).

(can’t resist heckling here, sorry!)

Try harder, eh?

(a) I’m not great with sharpening steels

(b) the women in my household seem to think that the same knife can be used to cut onions, tomatoes, concrete and wire (yes, really) without any ill-effect, and that chopping directly onto a granite surface is just fine.

mrjmt – Member

I bought most of my knives from JCK that are still cheaper than any you find in the market here even with delivery charges etc.
Japanese Chefs Knife

The ones you want to go for are:

1. Hattori HD series.
2. Misono Sweden steel or UX10 series
3. Hiromoto Tenmi-Jyuraku Series (Aogami Super)
4. Special
5. Buy some King whetstones or any good Japanese whetstones.
6. If you are a Chinese cleaver user then look for Sugimoto Chinese Cleaver or Suien Chinese Cleaver.

That site looks very promising, I’ll have a proper look on there.

I assume that you have at least one of each of the above?

I bought 3 chinese cleavers (Tojiro F-920, Suien, Sugimoto CM4030 Chinese Cleaver Small & Thin type), 1 Fujiwara FKH Santoku, fish bone tweezer. I was going to buy most of the above but ended with cleavers.

🙂

Go on Nisbits website as you’ll pick up a cheap set of classics for about £400, it’s a shame you hadn’t been looking a month ago as I sold 10 sets of shun at £500 a set, 75% off.

Ive got a Robert Welch knife. Really nice feel and weighting to it. Cracking blade on it too.

Another vote for Wusthof Classics here. Just feel “right”.

I bought 3 chinese cleavers (Tojiro F-920, Suien, Sugimoto CM4030 Chinese Cleaver Small & Thin type), 1 Fujiwara FKH Santoku, fish bone tweezer. I was going to buy most of the above but ended with cleavers.

Did you get stung for import duty?

I’m thinking I may order one of the Hattori HD series, probably a 15cm and trial it for a few months first, then decide whether to get the rest to match or go for something like the Wusthof.

Do the proper japanese knives take any more looking after than the more mainstream stuff?

edit: trial not trail, i’m not going to trail a 15cm knife around, people might think i’m mental.

I have a mix and match collection of Porsche, Global, Sabatier, Robert Welch, Balance, Marttini and others.

Not a fan of Global (don’t seem to hold an edge as well as others).

The ones that get the most use are the Porsche (I like the weight and they just look cool), the Marttini and the Balance.

Also I have 3 Aldi folded steel knives – WAY better than they should be for the money.

slainte 😀 rob

mrjmt – Member

Did you get stung for import duty?

Nope. The first one I ordered was Tojiro to test the delivery and to test the service. All well as they are highly regarded.

Then I ordered the rest together about a year time. No import duty etc.

I’m thinking I may order one of the Hattori HD series, probably a 15cm and trial it for a few months first, then decide whether to get the rest to match or go for something like the Wusthof.

You will not be disappointed with Hattori HD as it was high on my list until I decided I like cleaver. I also listed Hattori HD for you in case you do not like the look of patina. Hattori HD does not patina.

Do the proper japanese knives take any more looking after than the more mainstream stuff?

Not as far as I am concerned and they do hold the edge well (those listed above). The most I do to maintain the edge so far is by simply using leather strop on the edge that’s all.

I have diamond steel and standard steel too but I don’t use them on my Japanese knives except my cheapo knives … plenty … For my Japanese knives I use whetstones.

edit: trial not trail, i’m not going to trail a 15cm knife around, people might think i’m mental.

You might want to try Hattori HD Santoku (165mm – 177mm) or Gyuto (180 – 240mm). I prefer Nakiri (a smaller version of cleaver for fruits & veg … but I use it on everything except chopping bones).

🙂

I bought a Tojiro DP from nipponkitchen & am very happy with it……and it’s a thing of beauty.
They suggest ceramic disc sharpeners which are very easy to use.

nick1c – Member

I bought a Tojiro DP from nipponkitchen & am very happy with it……and it’s a thing of beauty.
They suggest ceramic disc sharpeners which are very easy to use.

Tojiro DP is nice too but I don’t like those use by Heston Blumenthal as I think they are rather overpriced and I am not sure about the balance. The blade seem a bit brittle too (noticed this from one with chipped blade at Fenwick departmental store several years back)

I prefer whetstone simply for learning to sharpen a knife properly but I also like to use the sharpening steel for my cheaper ones … rather therapeutic when doing all those sharpening. 😀

I had Global and loved them but they all got stolen in Norway, tis a long story, must say I have nowt special now I just keep them super sharp.

I like Global but I don’t like their price … 😆

I plan to add this to my collection in future …

I like my globals and prefere then for working with to the one sabatier carving knife I have.
I’d suggest that those who think they don’t hold an edge are probably shapening them as per a western knife on a steel as opposed to the correct technique in a whetstone. Mine stay sharp for weeks (and i mean sharp enough to shave with, not sharp enough to hack at an onion with!) I love knives me!

There is a there is town in Germany called Solingen that specialises in making knives, razors and scissors (in the past swords). The main knife manufacturer is Zwilling or JA Henckels, also a smaller manufacturer called Wusthoff. Either brand are good but Zwilling is regarded as the best knife maker in Germany

“Guns for show, knives for a pro” to coin a phrase.

I have Global and really rate them. Tend to sharpen one a month or so.

We got a set when they were on offer in Selfridges and my wife rang me a few days later to say that she had put them in the dishwasher and all the edges were pitted and basically finished with.

I said surely you knew not to put them in the dishwasher. She replied that there was nothing in the box to say otherwise and she was right. For some strange reason all the sets on offer came packaged without any instructions or care advice.

Selfridges offered to send them back to be sharpened but after I kicked up a fuss they replaced them with a new set.

I have since added several to the initial set.

Some top advice and help here guys, thanks a lot.

I’ve ordered a Hiromoto Gingami No.3 Petty 150mm from JCK to see how I get on with the jap knives before I get carried away and order a whole set, this one seems to be a good beginner knife being stainless.
(Also means I get time to contemplate which knives I will actually use and just order the ones I need instead of replicating the sabatiers I have!)

I now have that excited feeling you get when you’re waiting for a package to arrive from a foreign land with shiney things in it! 😀